| | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Just wondering how many of you had radiation with chemo. I saw my Chemo dr last week and she said she was going to talk to the radiation dr and discuss whether I will get chemo as well. Being that I'm still tryign to recover from my surgery, I didn't bother askign any questions because I was just tired and wanted to go home, it had been a long day of seeing drs. I see her again but wanted to hear from you all what you thought about getting rad with or w/o chemo. Thanks!
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | See my signature line and important to note I had mets to at least 2 nodes and no surgery.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Every treatment plan is individualized, and this would be particularly true in your case, given that you have Mucoepidermoid, rather than SCC.
For SCC, the combination of chemo and radiation is pretty much the standard of care right now, absent comorbid conditions that would indicate against chemo. In most cases (again for SCC), the chemo serves to increase the effectiveness of the radiation and assist in cleaning up any stray cancer cells that may be wandering around the body.
Always an individual decision, but I wanted to throw everything they had at this disease. Based upon what I have read, the treatment regimens for SCC and mucoepidermoid are similar.
If you do some searches here, you should find some folks with your diagnosis who can provide further insight. As always, you need to listen closely to your team of doctors, ask questions, and make the best decision for you.
Best wishes.
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | I had only radiation but that was back in 1997. You're at MDA aren't you? I'd go with their recommendation.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I had both at the same time after being told I needed neither Esikon, I had to have radiation seed inplants after the rads and chemo, and teeth removed before all of that. One never knows.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Eileen,, we had our beginnings both in Aug 2007 mine was the 3rd. Or did I read your profile wrong?
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | No Jim, I had my radiation in 1997 not 2007. I'm ten years ahead of you. Brian and I both had our treatments about 4 months part. We are old time surviors.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Thanks everyone for your input. I am at MDA, I will go with what they recommend, I just wanted to see what yalls opinions were on the subject matter. I was told either cisplatin or carboplatin if they decide to do chemo. I'm fine with it, I just want to knock it all out so it never returns!
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | If you have a choice, Carboplatin is purportedly less toxic than cisplatin on your normal cells. I had no ringing in my ears or other symptoms with the carboplatin which was so much easier on me than the Erbitux. Good luck Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 109 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 109 | I had conflicting advice from my team of docs (H&N surgeon said no chemo, rad onco said whatever, med onco said chemo), a bunch of 2nd opinions from oncologists and H&N surgeons were 4:3 against chemo, and that included docs at my own hospital, Sloan Kettering, Moffitt, and Dana Farber (sometimes it's confusing to have friends who are doctors!  ), and there was neither trend nor consensus. So I went with chemo just so that I wouldn't look back wishing I had done more.
Last edited by Jenka; 07-24-2009 01:56 AM.
38 yo@dx, female, non-smoker, non-drinker, SCC right lateral tongue. T2N2aMx stage IVa; 1/20/09 bilateral neck dissection, hemiglossectomy, micromets in 2 right nodes, left all clear. 33xIMRT + 3 cisplatins. Tx completed 5/08/09. PET scan 7/29/09 clear, 5/26/10 clear, chest x-ray 5/23/11 clear
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